Death toll rises to 46; US to assist with recovery efforts as floods and landslides continue

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The Disaster Management Centre states that the death toll has risen to 46.

In addition, 418 thousand 616 persons belonging to 99 thousand 238 families have been affected due to adverse weather.

Total of 329097 persons belonging to 60 thousand 263 families are sheltering in relief camps.

The Irrigation department advised residents living in low lying areas along Kalani River to move to safer areas, as the water levels continue to rise.

Director of the Aquatic Science of the Irrigation Department Prema Hettiarachchi further explained the situation.

The rescue operations following the landslide at Samasara Kanda have recommenced this morning.

However intermittent rain in the area is hindering the rescue efforts.

Bodies of 17 victims who were buried alive in the landslide on Tuesday have been recovered.

Meanwhile, bodies of five more landslide victims of Kalupahana Watta at Arandara in Bulathkohupitiya were recovered this morning.

Six of 10 houses at the Estate were destroyed in the landslide on Tuesday night.

Western Commanding Officer of the Sri Lanka Army Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe who is in charge of the rescue operations at Aranayake and Bulathkohupitiya further explained the situation.

Meanwhile the United States of America says that it is ready to help the victims of landslides and floods that wreaked havoc in Sri Lanka.

US Ambassador in Colombo Athul Keshap, issuing a communiqué extends his sympathy and grief to the members of the disaster affected families.

The met department states that the depression in the Bay of Bengal has intensified in to a deep depression and is now located about 500km north of Kankasanturai, progressively moving away from the island.

There is a high possibility that the South-western part of the country may experience sudden increase in rainfall.